- suv 112,974
- 137 below average
- 7,499 fair
- Plainfield, NJ
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- autoshopper.com
- 137 below average suv 112,974 gasoline grey automatic
2007 mercury mountaineer review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Traditional truck-based suv based on explorer. introductionthe mercury mountaineer is a higher-end, fraternal twin of the ford explorer. This is both good and bad. It's good because, overall, the explorer is a superb product. What's not so good is that the ford motor company felt that mountaineer needed a unique mercury identity. as a result, while the explorer looks like a tough, non-nonsense, off-road truck, the mountaineer looks like a mercury. It's certainly attractive, but despite its machined-billet front end, it tends more toward country club sleek than off-road robust. mountaineer was extensively updated for 2006, with a redesigned frame and suspension; a new and more powerful v8; and an even newer six-speed automatic transmission. at the same time, a heavily reworked interior enhanced user-friendliness. In fact, there is much here to love. The dash is trimmer, more elegant, and communicates essential information cleanly. Multi-adjustable front seats make for comfortable commutes. Passengers consigned to the third-row seats enjoy more legroom than their counterparts in other, seven-passenger suvs in the class. The interior door handles are awkward, however. 2007 models bring subtle but significant improvements: most notably, ford's sophisticated safety canopy side-curtain airbags come standard on all mountaineers, joining a long list of safety features that includes advancetrac stability control with roll stability control and adaptive driver and front-passenger air bags. A heated windshield that dramatically decreases de-icing time is now available on all models, and we recommend it for cold climates. The rear-seat dvd entertainment system now comes with a larger, eight-inch screen. And all mountaineers now come with a standard auxiliary audio input jack. lineupthe 2007 mercury mountaineer comes in two trim levels, base 27,300) and premier 30,365). Standard in both is a 210-hp v6 and five-speed automatic transmission; optional on the upper-level premier is a 292-hp v8 mated to a six-speed automatic 1,295). Both offer a choice of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive 2,275). Power retractable running boards 695) are optional. Cloth bucket seats are offered as a credit option (-$1,000) that also deletes the steering-wheel mounted controls and reverts to manual air conditioning. safety features fitted on all mountaineers include dual-stage adaptive front airbags, safety canopy side curtain airbags for the first- and second-row passengers, rollover protection sensors, front-seat side-impact airbags, advancetrac electronic stability control with roll stability control (rsc), antilock brakes with brake assist, latch child safety seat anchors, and a tire-pressure monitor. Headlights are an offbeat mix of curving lines and sharp angles. The front bumper holds rectangular fog lamps, a sectioned lower air intake and a satin-finish aluminum cross bar running the width of the grille. Fenders wear the same, edgy, machined-metal look. for 2007, the only visual distinction we could find from the 2006 model is the availability of three new colors: white chocolate clearcoat tri-coat (premier only), dark cherry clearcoat metallic, and alloy clearcoat metallic. In every other way, the 2007 mountaineer looks exactly like the 2006 mountaineer, which was itself only subtly changed from the 2005 model. Standard wheels are 17 inches with 18-inch wheels optional. cladding covers the lower door panels. A wide c-pillar separates the rear side doors from the rear quarter windows. Crisp-looking side mirrors are said to improve both aerodynamics and visibility, but we found them only average for rearview visibility. No rearview camera is available, an unfortunate omission that would make backing this big suv safer and easier. premier's optional powered running boards tuck away beneath the rocker panels, extending only when the doors are open. The taillights wear clear lenses, with the requisite red glow appearing when brakes are applied or running lights turned on. interiorthe interior of the mercury mountaineer was extensively revised for 2006 and carries over to 2007. Compared to 2005 and previous models, the cabin was simplified, resulting in a cleaner, more attractive environment with low-key metallic accents. It's a pleasant place, though it seems dated when compared with the latest car-based crossover utility vehicles, such as the ford edge. the stereo and climate controls use large, friendly buttons. That's not true of all navigation systems, including those from mercedes-benz. The navigation system screen could be larger, but the information it provides is adequate, and accuracy is above average. we like the look of some of the light-colored interiors, though we're concerned they'll get dirty. The light-colored, suede-like inserts attract dirt like a magnet and, once dirtied, are a hassle to spruce up. The 2007 model we tested had a light interior and the almost-white fabric trim was looking dingy with just 7,500 hard miles on the clock. the front seats are comfortable, with adequate thigh support and bolsters. Overall, passenger roominess is competitive for the class. That's a noticeable difference. However, mountaineer doesn't have nearly as much second-row hiproom as the envoy and pathfinder do. The middle-row bench seat has full seatbelts for three but head restraints for only the outboard passengers. the third-row seats in the mountaineer are significantly roomier than those in the competition, beating pathfinder for legroom by nearly seven inches. For third-row headroom and hiproom, mountaineer fits between acadia and pathfinder. Mountaineer's manual folding third row is a bench with minimal padding and fixed-height head restraints, which loom large in the back window; they do collapse, but only by tugging a loop hanging out the backside. Much better are the optional third-row seats that can be power-folded via two rocker buttons in the left rear quarter panel, directly below a thoughtfully provided button for the power central locking. The third row folds perfectly flat for a nice, even cargo floor. accessing the third row is a three-step process that.
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